Speed controlling means for spinning machines



G. H. HAMM Sept. 29; 1936.

SPEED-CONTROLLING MEANS FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1955 Inventor George H.-Hamm, b M4 56 Hi Attorney Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE SPEED CONTROLLING MEANS FOR SPINNING MACHINES George H. Hamm, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 5, 1935, Serial No. 29,822

8 Claims.

My invention relates to speed controlling means for ring spinning machines and the like, more particularly to means for automatically varying the speed of the spinning machine during a filling wind operation, and has for an object the provision of simple and reliable means for Varying the speed to give a high operating efliciency.

It will be understood that in filling wind operations, to which my invention relates in particular, the yarn is wound on the spindle in conical layers. At the beginning of the winding operation, a conical base or bunch is built up on the lower end of the spindle, the layers being thereafter conical for the completion of the winding operation. carrying out this winding operation, the yarn is wound on portions of the bobbin of a continually varying diameter, and it is an. inherent characteristic of ring spinning machines that the tension on the yarn varies inversely with the diameter of the portion of the bobbin on which the thread is being wound, assuming a constant speed for the spindle.

In order to obtain the highest permissible operating speeds during all portions of the winding operation While keeping the tension on the yarn substantially constant, it is desirable that at the beginning of the winding operation the spinclle should be driven at a predetermined relatively low base speed. This speed should slightly increase as the ring rail advances'along the spindle and should decrease as the ring rail returns. During the time in which the base or bunch of the bobbin is being built up, the amplitude of this change in speed should gradually be increased and at the same time the base speed should gradually be raised until at the time the base or bunch is completed and the full taper of the bobbin developed, the speed of the spindle should be varying with a maximum amplitude of speed change from a maximum base speed. The remainder of the bobbin is then built up by winding conical layers on the spindle, and the speed change obtained at the end of the base forming operation should be maintained during the remainder of the winding operation.

Various speed controlling arrangements have heretofore been proposed, comprising a plurality of cams and levers arranged to be driven through predetermined cycles to accomplish a desired cycle of speed change. Certain types of spinning machines, however, are provided with a mecha nism, often called a monkey mechanism, which mechanism is provided with an oscillatory motion and also with a transverse motion in order It will be apparent that in toproduce the necessary relative movement between the ring rail and the spindle toaccomplish a filling wind operation. In a copending application of Claude C. Runner, Serial No. 29,884, filed July 5, 1935, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, there is described and claimed speed controlling apparatus in which the oscillatory and the transverse movement of an element of the spinning machine is utilized to control the speed of the machine. The invention disclosed in the above application was made by the said Claude C. Runner prior to my invention and I, therefore, do not herein claim anything shown or described in that application, which is to be regarded as prior art with respect to the present invention.

While the speed control apparatus disclosed in the above Runner application is extremely simple and very reliable, it has been found that certain classes of work require a somewhat different cycle of speed changes than is obtainable with the arrangement therein disclosed. For example, the amplitude of movement through which the machine element must oscillate to accomplish the desired oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle may not be directly proportional to the amplitude of movement of the speed controlling apparatus which is necessary to obtain the correct cycle of speed changes. Also the transverse movement of the machine element may not be directly proportional to the desired increase in the base speed of the machine.

Since the element from which the speed controlling movement is obtained constitutes an element of the machine itself, the magnitude of this movement is determined by the requirements of the spinning machine and cannot be varied for speed controlling purposes. It is therefore necessary to convert the movement derived from the machine element into .a movement suitable for providing the desired speed control, and it is a further object of my invention to provide an improved speed control apparatus for a spinning machine of this character, which apparatus is simple and reliable and which automatically converts the movement derived from an element of the machine into'a desired speed controlling movement.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide linkage mechanism connected between the speed controlling means for the spinning machine and an element of the machine having an amplitude of oscillatory movement proportional to the amplitude of relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, and also having a transverse movement during the base forming portion of the winding operation. This linkage mechanism includes means for automatically converting the motion received from the machine element into a motion suitable for operating the speed controlling device to accomplish a desired cycle of speed change. More specifically, I provide a control member one end of which is connected to the movable element of the machine and the other end of which is provided with an elongated slot. Extending intothe slot is a fixed pivot pin which forms the fulcrum point for the control member, and connected to the control member intermediate its ends is an operating link the other end of which is connected to the speed controlling means. As the machine element moves transversely during the base forming portion of the winding operation, the control member moves therewith so as to vary the relative position of the fixed pivot pin in the elongated slot. This transverse movement of the control member is effective gradually to increase the base speed of the machine and is also effective to adjust the fulcrum point about which the control member oscillates so as to control the magnitude of the oscillatory movement imparted to the speed controlling device. The elongated slot is preferably slightly inclined relative to the direction of the transverse movement of the control member so as to produce a corrective component of movement which is effective to control the increase in the base speed.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should now be had to the drawing, the single figure of which shows speed control means embodying my invention applied to a typical ring spinning machine of the above described character.

Referring now to the drawing, for purposes of clarity, only the essential elements of the spinning machine directly cooperating with the speed varying means are shown. In this particular machine, the spindle I is fixed in position while the ring rail H is oscillated up and down and is progressively moved upward as the winding operation proceeds. Obviously, however, the ring rail may be stationary and the spindle given a corresponding movement.

In order to simplify the drawing as much as possible, I have shown the ring rail in a conventional manner as being operated through a lever |2 pivoted at I3, one end of the lever being connected to the lower end of a rod M the upper end of which is secured to the ring rail. The other end of the lever |2 carries a weight l5 for raising the ring rail, and the lever I2 is operated against the force exerted by the, weight |5 by means of a flexible cable Is, one end of which is attached to a segmental arm I! on the lever |2. As shown, the other end of the cable 5 is connected to the end of a shaft l8 which is provided with a threaded portion I9 and with a splined portion 20 arranged to cooperate with a driving member 2|. The shaft I8 is rotated at a predetermined constant speed by the driving member 2| which is provided with a driving gear 22 arranged to be driven through suitable driving mechanism (not shown), connecting it to the electric motor 23 which forms the driving means for the entire machine. The splined connection of the shaft to its driving member 2| is provided so as to permit the shaft to be moved longitudinally, as it is rotated, by reason of its threaded connection with a nut 24 secured on the upper end of an oscillating arm 25, the lower end of which is provided with a fixed and adjustable pivot 26. This longitudinal movement of the shaft I8 is toward the left, as viewed in the drawing, as the bobbin is built up and is effective to produce a progressive raising movement of the ring rail with respect to the spindle.

The arm 25 is oscillated about its pivot 26 by means of a cam 21 forming a part of the machine and driven from the electric motor 23. As shown, the cam bears directly on a roller 28 on the lower end of an arm 29 having a. fixed and adjustable pivot 30 at its upper end. This arm 29 bears at an intermediate point on a roller 3| secured to a member 32 which is slidably mounted on a guide (not shown) secured to the arm 25 and extending longitudinally thereof. As the arm 25 is oscillated about its pivot 25, its upper end moves the end of the shaft |8 back and forth, the splined portion 20 moving relative to the driving member 2|, and the ring rail is correspondingly oscillated up and down with respect to the spindle.

With the parts in the position shown, the roller 3| and the member 32 are in their lowermost position, which position is occupied during the main portion of the winding operation. At the beginning of the winding operation, the member 32 is in a raised position as compared to that shown, so that the roller 3| cooperates with the arm 29 to give a shorter amplitude of movement to the arm 25 and the member 32 secured thereto. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the roller 3| is initially raised by temporarily disconnecting the driving connection for the shaft l8 and turning the shaft manually so as to feed it back toward the right, as viewed in the drawing, through the nut 24 whereby the ring rail is lowered, and a gear 33 on the shaft is brought into engagement with a rack (not shown) on the member 32. Further continued rotation of the shaft causes the gear 33 to raise the member 32 and with it the roller 3| to an uppermost position.

This manual operation sets the machine for the beginning of a winding operation. During the initial stages of the winding operation while the conical base is being formed, the gear 33 gradually moves the member 32 downwardly, or transversely to the direction of oscillation, until, when the conical base has been formed, the member 32 has arrived at its lowermost position, shown, in which position the gear 33 no longer engages the rack.

It will be understood that the mechanism so far described is old in the art and is shown as typical of ring spinning machines for the purpose of a clearer understanding of the invention. It will be apparent now that the member 32 which is secured to the oscillating member 25 comprises an element of the machine having an oscillating movement corresponding to the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle and having a transverse movement during a predetermined portion of the winding operation. The member 32 and the arm 25 are commonly referred to by those skilled in the art as a monkey mechanism, the part 32 which is movable transversely during a portion of the winding operation comprising the monkey.

While any suitable variable. speed driving motor 23 may be used in accordance with the invention, a three-phase, slip ring induction motor is shown. The speed. of this motor is controlled by means of a 'rheostat 34 shown as having three resistances 35, '36 and 3] connectedrespectively in the rotor nircuits of the motor andibeing variableby means ofa rotatable contact device'38 having threesarms cooperating with the respective resistances.

In accordance with my invention, the rheostat 434 is automatically operated to produce a desired cycle of speedchanges by means of suitable :linkage mechanism driven in accordance with the oscillatory and the transverse movement of the member 32. This linkage mechanismcomprises a control member '39 and a connecting link it. As shown, the control member 33 is connected at one end to a portion of the member 32 by means of a pin li and is provided atits other end with an elongated slot 32 into which the pivot .pin :26 extends so as to provide a fulcrum for the control member. One end of the connectinglink 40 is ivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the control member 39 "by means of a pin 63,, and the other end of the link 40 is provided with a rack 44 arranged to engage a gear 65in order to operate the contact arms '38 of the rheostat 34.

As described above, in order to begin the winding operation, the spinning machine must be reset so as to bring the shaft ill to its extreme righthand position, and the member 32 to its uppermost position. During this resetting operation, it will be apparent that the control member 39 moves upward with the member 32, and accordingly, the link 38 is operated in a left-hand direction so as to rotate the contact arms 38 in a counterclockwise direction and thereby insert'a major portion of the resistances 3'5, 3'5 and 3! into the respective motor circuits. Accordingly, the spinning machine at the beginning of the winding operation will be driven at a relatively low base speed and as the cam 21 rotates, the arm '25, the member 32 and the linkage mechanism comprising "the control member '39 and the ink'co will be oscillated so as successively to increase and decrease the motor speed as the ring rail moves relative to the spindle. Since the point of contact between the roller 3! and the arm 29 is relatively close to the pivot pin '36, it Will be apparent that the amplitude of oscillation of the member 32 and the linkage mechanism is relatively small, and accordingly, the speed change accomplished at the beginning of the Winding operation is relatively small.

As the winding operation proceeds, the member 32 moves downwardly from its upper position, and it .will be apparent that as the pivot pin 43 approaches the rheostat 36, the link 49 will move r in a right-hand direction to rotate the arm 38 in a clockwise direction and thereby gradually increase the base speed of the machine. It will also be apparent that since the slot 32 is slightly inclined relative to the path of transverse move ment of the control member '39, the control memher will be moved slightly i-na right-hand direction as the relative position of the pin 2'6 in the slot 42 is varied, and accordingly, a further "in crease in the base speed of the machine will be accomplished. When the member '32 and the control member 39 have reached their lowermost position, the contact arms 38 Will occupy the position shown in the drawing, in which position a considerable portion of each of the resistances 35, 33 and 3? is excluded from the respective motor circuits, and accordingly, the machine will be operated at a maximum base speed. This lowermost position corresponds to the completion of the base forming operation, and the maximum base speed now obtained will remain constant during the remaining portion of the 'vvinding operaation.

It will also be apparent that as the member 32 moves transversely or downwardly during the initial .portion of the winding operation, thepoint of :engagementof the roller :3l with the .arm .29 moves farther away from the pivot point 30,..and accordingly, the magnitude of the oscillation imparted to the .member .32 and the arm 2 5 will gradually be increased. However, as the control member 39 moves downwardly with the member 32, the consequent change of the relative position of the pivot pin 26 in the slot 42 is effective automatica'lly'to adjust the fulcrum point of the control member 39. As thecontrol member .39 moves downwardly, the fulcrum point gradually approaches the pivot pins 4! and 43 so as to shorten the eifective length of the control member 319.. This effective shortening of the control member 39 introduces a corrective component of movement into the linkage system which is effective automatically to compensate for the large .increase in the amplitude of oscillation of the member 32 and thus produce a desired cycle of speed change. When the member 32 and the control member 39 reach their lowermost position which position, as heretofore mentioned, corresponds to the completion of the base .forming operation, the amplitude of the oscillation imparted to the rheostat 34 will have attained a maximum value which will be maintained during the remainder of the winding operation.

In order to provide for further adjustment of the speed curve obtained during the winding operation, the control member 39 is provided with a plurality of apertures 46 arranged to be selectively engaged by the pin 4| so as to adjust the relation of the control member 39 to :theImember 32.. Likewise, the left-hand end of the link At may :'be provided with one or moreadditional apertures 41 for selective engagement with the pin 43.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my'invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and I, therefore, contemplate by theappended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What Iclaim as new and desire *to :secure "by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1 Apparatus for controlling the speed of .a ring spinning machine .or the like provided with an element oscillating in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail 'and'the spindle, said element having a predetermined transverse movement during a portion of the winding operation, means for varying the speed of the machine, linkage mechanism connected between said machine element and said speed varying means for operating said speed varying means in accordance with both-said oscillatory movement and said transverse movement of said element, and means responsive to the transverse movement of said element for automatically adjusting said linkage mechanism to control the operation of said speed varying means.

2.. Apparatus for controlling the speed of a ring spinning machine or the like provided with an element oscillating in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, said element having a predetermined transverse movement during a portion of the winding operation, means for varying the speed of the machine, linkage mechanism connected between said machine element and said speed varying means whereby said linkage mechanism is driven in accordance with both the oscillatory movement of said machine element and the transverse movement of said machine element, and means responsive to the transverse movement of said machine element for automatically adjusting said linkage mechanism, whereby said speed varying means is operated to produce a desired amplitude of speed change and a desired base speed during all portions of the winding operation.

3. Apparatus for controlling the speed of a ring spinning machine or the like provided with an element oscillating in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, said element having a predetermined transverse movement during a portion of the winding operation, means for varying the speed of the machine, linkage mechanism connected between said machine element and said speed varying means for operating said speed varying means in accordance with both said oscillatory movement and said transverse movement of said element, and means associated with said linkage mechanism responsive to the transverse movement of said element for introducing a corrective component of movement, whereby said speed varying means is operated to produce a desired variation in the speed of the machine.

4. Apparatus for controlling the speed of a ring spinning machine or the like provided with an element oscillating in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, said element having a predetermined transverse movement during a portion of the winding operation, means for varying the speed of the machine, a pivoted control member, an operating connection between said control member and said speed varying means, means for connecting said control member to said machine element whereby said control member is oscillated to vary the speed of said machine, and means responsive to the transverse movement of said element for automatically adjusting the pivot of said control member to vary the magnitude of the'oscillations imparted to said speed varying means.

5. Apparatus for controlling the speed of a ring spinning machine or the like provided with an element oscillating in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, said element having a predetermined transverse movement during a portion of the winding operation, means for varying the speed of the machine, a pivoted control member, an operating connection between said control member and said speed varying means, means for connecting said control member to said machine element whereby said control member is oscillated to vary the speed of said machine between predetermined limits, and means providing for transverse movement of said control member by said element to vary the base speed of the machine independently of the speed change impartedby said oscillations, said last mentioned means including means for automatically adjusting the pivot of said control member during the transverse movement of said element to vary the magnitude of the oscillation imparted to said speed varying means.

6. Apparatus for controlling the speed of a ring spinning machine or the like provided with an element oscillating in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, said element having a predetermined transverse movement during a portion of the winding operation, means for varying the speed of the machine, a pivoted control arm, an operating connection between said control arm and. said speed varying means, means connecting said control arm to said machine element whereby said speed varying means is controlled in accordance with the oscillatory movement of said element, and means including a cooperating pin and slot supporting said control arm for transverse movement with said element whereby said speed varying means is also controlled in accordance with said transverse movement.

7. Apparatus for controlling the speed of a ring spinning machine or the like provided with an element oscillating in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, said element having a predetermined transverse movement during a portion of the winding operation, means for varying the speed of the machine, a control arm pivoted adjacent one end, a link connected to an intermediate portion of said control arm and to said speed varying means, means for connecting the other end of said control arm to said element whereby said arm is oscillated about said pivot to operate said speed varying means through said link, and means including a slot in said control arm for automatically varying the relative spacing of said pivot point and said link as said element moves transversely to control the magnitude of the oscillation imparted to said speed varying means.

8. Apparatus for controlling the speed of a ring spinning machine or the like provided with an element oscillating in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, said element having a predetermined transverse movement during a portion of the winding operation, means for varying the speed of the machine, a control member provided with an elongate slot, means connecting said control member to said machine element, a fixed pivot pin extending into said slot to provide a fulcrum about which said control member is oscillated by said machine element, and means connecting said control member to said speed varying means, said cooperating pin and slot serving automatically to adjust the fulcrum point of said control member as said member moves transversely to control the amplitude of speed change imparted to said machine, said slot being arranged at an angle to the line of transverse movement so as to control the increase of base speed produced by the transversemovement of the control member.

GEORGE H. HAMM. 

